Push broom



United States Patent PUSH BROOM John E. Grogan, West Hartford, Conn.,assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Application July 13, 1954, Serial No. 443,091

8 Claims. (Cl. -172) This invention relates to push brooms and moreparticularly to push brooms of the type having a single brush strip. Thepush broom comprises a brush strip, a handle and a structure to whichthe brush strip and the handle are attached to connect the same inoperative relation which structure is hereinafter termed the headCertain objects of the invention are to produce a push broom which islight in weight and easy to manipulate in sweeping operations and whichmay be readily set up in different conditions for performing diierentkinds of sweeping jobs.

Another object of the invention is to produce a push broom in which thebrush strip may be readily adjusted in a number of different positionswith relation to the handle to suit both the sweeper and the job.

Another object of the invention is to produce a push broom in which thebrush strip may be detached from the head and another brush stripattached to the head in place thereof quickly and easily without theexercise of any particular skill.

In carrying out the above objects, applicant has produced a push broomin which the brush strip .is attached to the head by a securing meanswhich enables the brush strip readily to be adjusted in any positionlongitudinally of the strip. This securing means also enables the brushstrip quickly and easily to be located in any one of a plurality ofpredetermined angular positions with relation to the head and attachedin such position. Upon disconnecting the parts of the securing means,the brush strip attached thereby to the head may be readily removed fromV the head and another brush strip readily attached to the head inoperating position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in apush broom embodying the novel and improved features, constructions andcombination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims the advantages of which will be readily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawingsillustrating a construction embodying the invention in its preferredform and the following detailed description of the construction thereinshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a push broom embodying the inventionshowing the brush strip attached to the head in a position such that theaxis of the handle is substantially perpendicular to the upper edge ofthe strip and extends at an oblique angle to the central plane of thestrip.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a push broom embodying the inventionshowing the brush strip attached to the head in a position such that theaxis of the handle is substantially in the same plane as the centralplane of the brush strip and extends at an oblique angle to the upperedge of the strip.

Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view of the push broom with theparts in the relative positions shown .in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the head block detached from the otherparts of the push broom taken from above the block, and

Fig. 5 is a detail underside plan view of the head block detached fromthe other parts of the broom.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings of this application,the push broom includes a brush strip indicated as a whole at 2. Eachbrush strip comprises a longitudinal metallic channel member 4 open atthe bottom and having downwardly converging sides 6, and said brushstrip comprises brush fibers 8 which project downwardly from the channelmember, the brush fibers being doubled within the channel member andextending around a longitudinal core wire 10. The sides of the channelmember 4 press against the fibers to hold them in place. The term fibersis used herein in a generic sense and is intended to include animalbristles, vegetable fibers, synthetic fibers, metal wires or any othersuitable brush material.

The brush strip is mounted upon a head block 12 to which the handle ofthe broom is secured. This head block is provided with means forlocating the strip angularly about a symmetrical axis of the block whichis hereinafter referred to as the vertical axis of the block since it islocated in a Vertical position with the blade sweep in the positionshown in Pigs. 1 and 2. In the present form of the invention, the headblockis constructed to locate the brush strip in any one of fourpredetermined angular positions about the said axis of the block. Thehead block preferably consists of a mass of relatively light materialsuch as aluminum and preferably has the shape shown in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive.

This block is provided with arcuate end faces 14, with substantiallyplane side faces 16 and with a substantially plane bottom face 18. Forthe purpose of locating the brush strip angularly about the verticalaxis of the block, the block is provided at its ends with spacedmarginal projections 20 extending downwardly below the bottom face 18 ofthe block and at its sides with spaced marginal projections 22 alsoextending downwardly below said bottom face, the projections 22 alsobeing spaced from the adjacent projections 20. By these projections, thehead block is formed with pairs of positioning grooves 23-23, 24-24,26-26 and 28-28, the grooves of each pair being located on diametricallyopposite sides of the axis of the block. As will be noted from aninspection of Fig. 5, the grooves 23, 24 and 26 are located along theends of the head block and the grooves 28 are located along the sides ofsaid block. The channel member 4 of the brush strip is constructed tofit in the grooves of each pair with its open sides downward and saidmember, in each angular position, extending across the axis of the headblock. The channel member is clamped in each set of grooves by asuitable clamping device.

The clamping device for clamping the brush strip to the head comprises aclamping block 30 preferably cylindrical in form mounted coaxially withthe head block to slide vertically in a cylindrical guideway 32 in thehead block. The clamping block is provided with spaced clamping jawsbetween which the brush strip is arranged to fit in the manner shown inFig. 3, when the strip is engaged in any one of the pairs of positioniuggrooves between the projections formed on the head block. It will benoted that the clamping or gripping jaws of the clamping block convergefrom about the central point of the block vertically to the outer orlower ends of the jaws. The clamping block is secured in the guideway inthe head block by means of a stud 36 attached at its lower end to theblock and extending upwardly therefrom through an opening 38 in the wall40 of the head block.

When the brush strip is engaged in a pair of the locating grooves in thehead block and between the clamping jaws 34 of the clamping block, it isclamped in position by the upward movement of clamping block withrelation to the head block. During this movement of the clamping block,the channel member Ki of the brush strip is clamped between the clampingjaws 3d of the clamping block which engage the lower or outer portionsof the side walls of the channel member 4 and the lower face 18 of thehead block, against which the channel member is forced by the upwardmovement of the gripping jaws.

The stud 36 extends from the wall db of the head block upwardly and theupper end portion thereof passes through a connector d2 by which thehandle is attached to the head block. This connector is constructed ofsheet metal and is provided with a head block engaging portion 44,rectangular in outline, which engages in a rectangular recess 46 formedin the head block. The stud 3d eXtends upwardly from the wall 40 of thehead block through the said rectangular portion of the connector, thestud engaging in an opening in a wall 48 formed on said portion. A wingnut 50 is threaded on the upper portion of the stud and arranged toengage the latter wall. The connector is formed with a hollowcylindrical portion 52 constructed to receive the correspondingly shapedlower end portion of a handle 54.

With this construction, the brush strip is located in a predeterminedposition relatively to the head block and to the handle secured to saidblock by engaging the strip in any one of the pairs of grooves betweenthe downwardly extending projections on said block. The four pairs ofgrooves enable the brush strip to be located with relation to the headblock in any one of four different angular positions about the verticalaxis of the head block. The brush strip, when located in any one ofthese pairs of grooves, may be adjusted in any desire-d positionlongitudinally of the strip.

It will be noted that, in the present construction, a common mechanismis provided for securing together in their pro-per relations, the brushstrip, the head block, the clamping block and the handle.

Upon loosening the nut 50 on the stud 36, the clamping7 pressure on thebrush strip is relieved and the brush strip may be adjustedlongitudinally in any desired position. in shifting the brush strip fromone angular position to another on the head block, the nut ti'may beunscrewed to the upper end of the stud 3d and the brush strip may thenbe shifted to lanother set of grooves in the head block and secured inplace by screwing down the nut. When it is desired to remove the brushstrip in use and to substitute another brush strip there-for, the nut 30may be loosened and the brush strip in use may be removed from the headblock and clamping block by withdrawing the same longitudinally, Asubstitute brush strip may then be inserted longitudinally in thegrooves in the head block and between the jaws of the clamping block andsecured in position by tightening the nut f.

Of course, if desired, in adjusting the brush strip angu-' larly withrelation to the head block or in substituting another brush, the nut Stimay be unscrewed from the stud and the clamping block with the brushstrip held between the jaws thereof may be removed from the head block.

It is to be understood that the terms 'vertical, downward, upward andsimilar terms employed in describing the push broom shown in thisapplication are relative terms and apply to the parts of the broom whenthe broom is located in the positions shown in Pigs. 1, 2 and 3.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and havingspecifically described a construction embodying the invention in itspreferred form, what is claimed is:

1. A push broom comprising a handle, a brush strip,

a head block to which said handle is attached having a groove to receivethe brush strip to locate the strip in a predetermined position withrelation to the block in which groove the brush strip is adjustablelongitudinally, a clamping block movably mounted in a guideway on saidhead block and having spaced gripping jaws to receive between them thebrush strip engaged in said groove in said head block, and means formoving said clamping block with relation to said head block to causesaid jaws to grip the brush strip -and force the brush strip against thehead block to clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block.

2. A push broom comprising a handle, a brush strip, a head bio-ck towhich the handle is attached having a groove to receive the brush stripto locate the strip anguiarly with relation to the block, a clampingblock movably mounted in a guideway on said head block and having spacedgripping jaws to receive between them the brush strip engaged in thegroove in said head block, a threaded stud attached to said clampingblock and extending through an opening in said head block, and a nutthreaded on said stud for actuating the clamping block with relation tothe head block to cause said jaws to grip the brush strip and force the.strip against the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws andthe head block.

3. A push broom ccmprising in combination, a brush strip, a head blockhaving a groove to receive the brush strip to locate the strip angularlyabout a vertical axis with relation to the block, a clamping blockmovably mounted on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws toreceive between them the brush strip engaged in the groove in said headblock, a handle, a connector attached to the lower end of the handle,and common means for securing together the connector, the head block andthe clamping block and for moving said clamping block with relation tothe head block to cause said jaws to grip the brush strip and force thestrip against the head block to clamp the strip between the head blockand. said jaws.

4. A push broom comprising in combination, a brush strip, a head blockhaving one or more grooves to receive the brush strip to locate thestrip angularly with relation to the block, a clamping block movablymounted on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws to receivebetween them the brush Strip engaged in the grooves in said head block,a connector engaging said head block, a stud attached to said clampingblock and extending therefrom through said head block and through anopening in said connector, a nut threaded on said stud and engaging saidconnector for connecting together the head block, the clamping block andthe connector and for moving the clamping block with relation to thehead block to force the jaws on the clamping block against the brushstrip and clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block and ahandle secured to said connector.

5. A push broom comprising a head block, a handle attached to the headblock, la brush strip attached to the head block, the head block havinga guideway, a clamping block mounted for movement in `said guideway andhaving spaced clamping jaws between which said brush strip is arrangedfor longitudinal adjustment and means for moving the clamping block insaid guideway to cause said clamping jaws to grip the brush strip andforce said strip toward the head block to clamp the strip between saidclamping jaws and the head block.

6. A push broom comprising a head block, a handle attached to the headblock, a brush strip attached to the head block, the head block having aguideway, a clamping block mounted for movement in said guideway andprovided with spaced clamping jaws, having a fixed relation to eachother and to said clamping block, between which jaws said brush strip isengaged, and means for moving the clamping block in said guideway tocause the clamping jaws to grip the brush strip and force the striptoward the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws and the headblock.

7. A push broom comprising la brush strip, a head block having a seriesof strip engaging devices to receive the brush strip and locate the sameselectively in different positions angularly about the axis of theblock, a clamping block shiftably mounted on said head block and havingspaced strip clamping jaws arranged to receive the vstrip between themwith the strip in any one of said angular positions, and means formoving the clamping block to cause the jaws to grip the brush strip andforce the same against the head block to clamp the strip between saidjaws land the head block. f

8. A push broom comprising a head block, means onl the lower portion ofthe head block for locating a brush strip in a predetermined angularposition about the axis of the block, a brush strip mounted on the headblock in engagement with said locating means and comprising a channelhaving downwardly converging side walls, and brush fibers securedbetween the side walls of said channel, a clamping block mounted formovement upwardly and downwardly on the head block and having spaced ffor moving the clamping block upwardly with relation to the head blockto cause the jaws to grip the side walls of the channel thereof andforce the channel against the head block to clamp the channel betweenthe jaws and the head block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,144,309 Noppe et al June 22, 1915 1,289,816 Krantz Dec. 13, 19182,116,441 Mason May 3, 1938 2,152,358 Palmeri Mar. 28, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS 314,879 Italy Feb. 1934

